Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Farther on, there is a picnic area at
Hiram Falls
, a series of cascades
that drop 75 feet just below a Central Maine Power Company dam. As
you continue toward Fryeburg, you will also pass the
Hiram Nature
Study Area
, the trail to the top of
Mount Cutler
and the
Brownfield
Wildlife Management Area
.
To return toward the coast take Route 302, which hugs the opposite side
of Sebago Lake and passes near several state parks. Stop in
Naples
and
take a ride on the river steamer the
Songo Queen
.
Route 17
43 miles, 1¼ hours, one way
Highlights:
Winding mountain road packed with scenic variety.
Route:
Take Route 17 from the paper mill town of
Rumford
, north, to
the lakeside village of
Oquossoc
. This is one of the premier mountain
roads in Maine. It starts out gently enough as it climbs along the Swift
River, where amateur prospectors can be ably rewarded for time spent
panning for gold. Numerous picnic sites and natural wonders are passed,
including
Swift River Falls
and
Coos Canyon,
a 1,500-foot-long gorge
with smooth sculpted potholes and veins of crystals.
From the canyon north the road gets a little dicier. But the drive is well
worth it. Just north of where the Appalachian Trail crosses the pavement
is Height of Land, a pullout with spectacular views of the Rangeley Lakes
area and the White Mountains to the west.
Route 17 then continues north twisting and turning down the mountains
to Oquossoc, passing Rangeley Lakes State Park, the shores of Rangeley
Lake and by Bald Mountain, which has a popular hiking trail to the top.
Route 27
105 miles, 2½ hours, one way
Highlights:
Route 27 from Augusta to the Canadian border offers a fine
day trip with no end of scenic variety.
Route:
It begins in the heart of Maine's capital,
Augusta
, and heads
north through the rolling hills of the Belgrade Lakes Region. There are
plenty of scenic turnouts and picnic areas along the way.
In
New Sharon
, Route 27 joins with Route 2, a main east/west artery,
and heads into
Farmington
, home to a branch of the University of
Maine and gateway to the Western Mountains.
In
New Portland,
Route 27 begins its run along the west bank of the
Carrabassett River, passing through Kingfield. North of Kingfield the
road hugs the stream with numerous opportunities to pull off and picnic
